Oculus Rift + Kinect: Simulate height vertigo

The Inition’s vertigosimulator is a system that uses the virtualreality goggles Oculus Rift and motion sensor Kinect Microsoft, to create a virtual stage of vertigo, in which participants must cross a thin slab of concrete between two skyscrapers.

A Kinect sensor, mounted above, follows the player’s movements, while the Unity software provides the simulated environment. A fan blows air to cause the feeling of the wind on top of skyscrapers.

Images are realistic enough to fool the brain, which immediately tries to remember that there is no risk of falling from tremendous heights. But still, the player can not prevent the flow of adrenaline that raises a similar situation.

The Kinect detects the player’s movements virtually crossing a beam thinner to get from one skyscraper to another. The Kinect knows that player should keep their arms raised for balance, because if not, he will feel that falls flat.

The Oculus Rift has previously been used to simulate the beheading of his own head with a virtual guillotine. We think it is fun create virtual situations to experience exciting thrills as height vertigo, but from there to simulate situations macabre feel it is unhealthy.

Inition’s Vertigo Simulator

The system “Oculus + Kinect” has also been used in other recreational applications, as this DJ simulation game. As for the future believe a DJ.